Wall structure



May 18, 1943 C. A. HILL WALL STRUCTURE Fil ed Dec. 16, 1941 INVENTOR 6/74/9155 4 M11 RNEY Patented May 18, 1943 can Radiator -& Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York; N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 16,1941,ScrialNo.423,145

9 Claims. 01. 139 34) This invention relates to wallstructures and including latching mechanisms for securing movable wall sections or doors to the stationary or othenparts of such'wall structures, and'has for an object to provide awall structure of the type specified which isof improved construction and arrangement of pants. The invention consists in th novel construction'an'd combination of parts, to be more fully described'hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out arid distinctly claimed. Inthe accomipanying drawin'g, to be ltaken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, i1'1whichdrawin Fig.- 1 is a perspective'vlew showing a sheet: 7

metal furnace'jacket, or enclosing wall, which thepresent invention or purposes of illustration, is embodied;

Fig; Zisa'iragmentary vertical-section taken onfthe line2-2 of Fig. 1] the viewshcwin'g the structure on'an'enlarged scale; l v

Fig; 3 is a fragmentary 'vertica'l section like Fig." 2, and shows the relative'position of thhparts when the door, or movable wall'section, is being opened, or justbefore it is closed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'exploded view, showing onan enlarged scale, and in perspective; the top of the door'from the inside of the jacket and showing a pivoted latch member andits keeper plate as removed from the door, and also showing in perspective a iragmentof'the stationary'p'arts of the furnacejjacket; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plansectiontaken on" theline 5%5 of Fig. l, the parts being shown on the same enlarged scale as Figs, 2; 3; and 4.

Referring ncw'i'n detail to the" preferred embodiment of my invention which I have elected to show in the drawing; the refereneemnneral ln' 'indicat'esy iii its entirety; an enclosing sheetmetalwall" structure, or jacket, for' a warm'air furnace. The numeral ll indicates the fixed sheet-metal sidewalls of the jacket "i8, and the numeral" l2 the sheet-metal vertical front wall of the jacket; 1;hefront wall [2 is divided transversel-y alonga horizontal line to provide an upper fixed panelor wall section 13;, and a lower outwardly movable panelor wall Search M, th latter serving iasiadoor forp ermitting accesswhen desiredto the interior of the furnace, said panels beingin substantially the same 'vertical plane when the panel I4 is in closed pOsiti n reIatiVe to the panel 13. The door panel 14 is secuidfin' its closed position -by a latching mechanism indicatedin general bythe numeral 25 and located at the top of the door panel.

While I have shownmyinvention as embodied in a furnace jacket, itis not to be-considered as being limited in all of itsaspects to this particular application; ior the invention according to certain of its broader aspects, may he embodied in any type of wall structure having a removable panel or wallsection to be secured in closed position to therelatively fixed-parts of such wall structure by a latching mechanism;

Eachof the sheet-metal sidewalls! I is formed with a curved forward edge [6 which terminates in a verticalflange IT. The twoflanges I! of the two sidewalls-extend toward one another from opposite sides of the jacket-and provide abutments, againstwhich the front wall 12 fits. The upper fixed panel I3- is secured along its two vertical side edges to the curved forward edges l6 lbyi'suitable screws or bolts l8, and thus th fixed panel provides a rigid connection between the side walls I! at the upper part of the front wall l2. At the lower part of thefrontwall, the two side walls are'ri-giidly-connected by a cross-piece in the form-o'fja 2 bar I9 which isspot-welded at its ends'to the vertical flanges IT.

The" Z bar 19 forms the lower part of a two part separable hinge 20 connectinglthe lower part of the door panel M with the fixed parts of the jacket. The other part of the separable hinge 20 is'provided by a Z bar 21. extending horizontally across and spot-welded to the inner sur face of thelcwer part of door panel It, Th 2 bar 2! comprises an outwardly extending flange 22 and adownwardly extending flange 23 in overlapping engagement with an upwardly 'directed flange 24 and flange 25 of the Z bar I9. When the latch mechanism I5 is disengaged or unlat-ched ina manner which will !be presently descride, the door. panel M maybe moved outward of the jacket In about the hinge 20 until the top of the door panel l4 clears the'fixed upper panel l3 and then, if desired the door panel may be removed entirely-by simply lifting the sameand thereby disengaging the flanges 22, 23, 24, and 25oftheZbars2l andl9.

The latch mechanism l5 comprises a catch plate 26 formedrigid with and arranged lengthwise'along the lower marginal portion 21 of the 1' top panel I3, and sloping downward and inward to provide an inner free edge portion 28'which ex- Itends in the same general direction as the line of division between rpanels l3 and H. The plate 26 may be integral withth panel l 3, as is shown The latch mechanism I 5 also comprises a pivoted latch member arranged lengthwise along the top or upper marginal portion 3| of the door panel l4 and pivotally connected by pins 32 and 33 to the door panel l4 so as to move about an axis extending in the same general direction as the free edge portion 28. The pivoted latch member 3|] includes an upwardly directed hooking flange 34 disposed inwardly of the pivot and extending behind and en aging the rear of the free edge portion 28 when in the latched position (see 2 When itis desired to open and remove the door panel l4 the hooking flange 34 is first moved downward by hand about the pivotal axisprovided by the pins 32 and 33, untilthe flange 34 clears the free edge portion 23 (see Fig. 3). I a

As shown in Fig.1 the catch plate 26 is centrally disposed with respect to the horizontal division line between panels |3 and I4 and extends for a substantial distance along that line. The catch plate forms the rear Wall of a downwardly and outwardly opening recess 35. The end walls of the recess are formed by angle clips 36 suitably fixed as by spot-welding to the rear face of the marginal portion 21. The two side edges of the catch plate 26 are secured to the angle clips 36 by spot-welding. The catch plate 25 may be advantageously formed by cutting the same out of the upper fixed panel l3 and then by bending it inward to the position shown. The lower marginal portion 21 is suitably stiffened by a 2 bar 37 extending horizontally across the inner surface of themarginal portion 21 and suitably secured thereto by spot-welding.

The upper marginal portion 3| of the door panel M is formed with a recess 33 which opens outward and upward toward the fixed panel. l3. The recess 38 is in juxtaposed relation to the recess and extends for the same distance along the division line between panels. .The recess 38 is defined partly by a rear wall 39 which slopes upward and inward from the outer surface of the door panel |4 at the same angle preferably as the catch plate 26 slopes downward and inward from the fixed panel (see Fig. 2). The rear wall 39 is formed preferably by cutting the same from the upper marginal portion 3| and then bending the same inward along a horizontal line as shown. The marginal portion 3| is stiffened by an angle 45 extending horizontally thereacross at the bend of the wall 39 and secured thereto by spot-welding. Angle clips 4| and 42 form the two end walls of the recess 33 and areflxed to the inner surface of the upper marginal portion 3| by spot-welding.

The latch member 33 extends horizontally across the upper part of the recess 38 and is so positioned that when in normal latched position (see Figs. 1 and 2) it is substantially midway between the rear sloping walls 25 and 39 of the recesses 35 and 38, respectively. Such an arrangement is desirable in that it is neat and pleasing in appearance. The latch member 30 is also advantageously formed of sheet-metal and is channel-shaped or U-shaped in. cross section, said member comprising a first side plate 43 which lies substantially flush with the front wall l2 when in latched-position, a second side plate 44 extending rearwardly from the upper horizontal edge of the plate 43, the hooking flange 34 extending upwardly from the rear edge of the plate 44, and a third side plate 45 extending rearwardly from thelower horizontal edge of the plate 43 such a distance that itsrear edge 46 engages the wall 33 of the recess 38 when the latch member is in latched position (see Fig. 2)

The plates 44 and lie in substantially parallel 1 planes at right angles to the front plate 43.

The pivot pins 32 and 33 are aligned with re-- spect to one another and. are suitably fixed by spot-welding to the under surface of the side plate 44, said pins extending outwardly from op-- posite ends of the plate 44 and being journalled, respectively, in the two end walls of the recess 38. As shown, the top of the angle clip 4| is provided with a bearing opening 50 which receives the pin 32. The angle clip 42 is cut away at its top so as to form with the adjacent end of an overhanging top edge 5| of the door panel I 4, a slot 52 into which the other pivot pin 33 may be inserted from the rear side ofthe door panel (see Fig. 4). A keeper plate 53 is formed in its top edge with a bearing opening 54 which receives the pin 33, and the keeper plate is detachably secured by a bolt 55 to the angle clip 42. This construction provides a simple and efi'ective means for pivotally and detachably mounting the latch member 30 in the recess 38.

Preferably the latch member is constantly biased toward the latching position as shown in Fig. 2. This is effected in the present construction by adding weight to the side plate 43 which is on the side of the pivot pins 32 and 33 which is opposite the hooking flange 34. The weight is shown as being a metal bar 56 suitably spotwelded to the inner surface of the plate 43 and substantially coextensive therewith. The, plate 45 by engaging at its inner edge 46 with the wall 39 when in latched position, serves as a stop which in conjunction with the weight 56 assures that the plate 43 will be kept in flush relation with respect to the plane of the front wall l2," and thereby maintaining the neat and pleasing appearance of the latching mechanism.

As stated, Fig. 2 shows the relationship of the parts when the door panel is in closed or latched position. The hooking flange 34 is shown as being in engagement with the rear of free edge portion 28 and the door panel is held thereby in its closed position. The plate 43 is flush with the front face of the wall I 4 and remains in this position by virtue of the weight 56 and the plate member engaging the rear wall 33. When it is desired to open the panel |4, one grasps the plates 44 and 45 with the thumb and fingers and moves the latch member 30 about its pivotal axis of support until the hooking flange 34 clears the free edge 23. The unlatched position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3. The door may then be pulled outwardly until the marginal portion 3| is out from under the marginal portion 21, and the door may then be removed by lifting the same and thus disengaging the flanges 22 and 23 of bar 2| from the flanges 24 and 25 of bar Hi. When it is desired to replace and close the door l4, it can be simply and readily effected by positioning the lower part of the door with its side edges between forward edges |6 of walls I! with the flanges of bars 2| and IS in engagement and then by moving the door panel about the hinge 20 toward closed position. The latch member 30 is moved about its axis so that the hooking flange 34 will clear the free edge 28 and the door is pushed inward until the sides thereof firmly engage the vertical flanges I What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1 1. An upright sheet-metal wall divided transversely to provide an'upper fixed panel and a lower movable door panel, the upper panel havinga recess extending across the lower part thereof and defined partly by an inward and downward inclined rear wall terminating in an inner free edge portion extending across the lower part of said upper panel; said lower door panel having a recess extending across the upper part thereof and disposed opposite said firstnamed recess; a latch member extending lengthwise across the recess in said lower panel and pivoted tomove about an axis extending in the same general direction as said inner free edge portion and including an upstanding hooking flange disposed inward of the pivot and extending lengthwise in the same general direction as said free edge portion of the upper panel and fitting behind and engaging the rear of said free edge portion when said door panel is closed and being movable downward and out of engagement with said free edge when said door panel is to be opened; and means for biasing said latch plate first marginal portion including a wall member sloping from the outer surface thereof inward andjtoward said second marginal portion to provide a recess of substantial length opening outward and toward said second marginal portion,

and said sloping wall member terminating inward in a free edge portion extending in the same direction as said recess; said second marginal portion also havinga recess ofsubst'antiaI length and opening outward and toward said first marginal portion and being located opposite the firstnamed recess; a' latch plate secured to said second marginal portion and. extending lengthwise of the recess in said second marginal portion and pivoted. to move about an axis extending in the same general direction as said free edge portion, and said; latch plate including a hooking flange also extending lengthwise in thegeneral direction of said free edge portion andfitting behind and engaging the back of said free edge portion tohold, the wall section functioning as a door in closed position andsaid hooking, flange being.

movable about said pivot to clear said free edge to permit opening of said door.

3. A sheet-metal wall construction including 'first and second Wall sections having first and second marginal portions, respectively, arranged in juxtaposedrelation, one of said wall sections being fixed and the other of said wall sections being movable outward to provide a door; said first marginal portion including a wall member 7. sloping inward from the outer surface thereof .as said recess; said second marginal portion also having a recess of substantial length and opening outward and toward said first marginal portion and being located opposite the first-named recess; a latch member extending lengthwise of the recess in said second marginal portion and including a first side plate member lying' substantially fiush'with the outer surfaces of said wall, a second side plate member extending inward from said first flange and toward said free edge portion, and a hookingflange extending from the inner portions of said second plate member behind said free edge portion and en gaging the latter to hold the wall section functioning as a door in closedposition; and means pivotally supporting said latch member for movement about an axis extending in the same general direction as said free edge whereby said hooking flange may be moved from behind said free edge to clear the latter and permit the movable wall section to be moved outward.

4. A sheet-metal wall construction including first and second wall sections having first and second marginal portions, respectively, arranged in juxtaposed relation, one of said wall sections being fixed and the other of said wall sections being movable outward to provide a door, said first marginal portion including a wall member sloping from the outer surface thereof inward and toward said second marginal portion to provide a recess of substantial length opening outward and toward said second marginal portion, and said sloping wall member terminating inward in a free edge portion extending in the same direction as said recess; said second marginal portion including a wall member sloping inward and toward said. first wall section to provide a second recess locatedalongside the first-named recess and opening outward and toward said first marginal portion; a latch plate secured to said second marginal portion and extending lengthwise of saidsecond recess and pivoted to move about an axis extending in the same general direction as said free edge portion and including a hooking flange also extending lengthwise in the general direction of said free edge portion and fitting behind and engaging the back of said free edge portion to hold the wall section functioning as a door in closed position, said hooking flange being movable about said pivot to clear said free edge to permit opening of said door.

5. A sheet-metal wall construction including first and second wall sections having first and second marginal portions, respectively, arranged in juxtaposed relation, one of said wall sections being fixed and the other of said wall sections I opening outward and toward said first marginal portion; a latch member extending lengthwise of said second recess and including a first side plate lying substantially flush withthe general plane of said wall, a second side plate extending inward from the longitudinal edge of saidrfirst plate which is closest to said first wall section, a 5

hooking flange extending from the inner portions of-said second side plate behind said free edge portion and engaging the latter to hold the wall section functioning as a door in closed position,

and a third side plate extending from the longitudinal edge of said first plate remote from the first wall section inward such a distance as to engage the sloping wall member of said second marginal portion; means pivotally connecting said second side plate to said second marginal portion whereby the latch member may be moved about an axis extending lengthwise of the second recess to effect locking engagement and disengagement of said hooking fiange and said free edge portion; and means biasing the hooking flange toward locking engagement and the third plate into its engagement with the sloping wall member.

6. An upright sheet-metal wall divided along a transverse line into a fixed upper wall section having a bottom marginal portion extending along the division line and into a lower outwardly movable wall section having a top marginal portion also extending along said division line; said bottom marginal portion including a wall member sloping inward and downward from the outer surface thereof to provide a first recess extendingalong said division line and opening outward and downward, and said sloping wall member terminating in an inner free edge portion extending in the same general direction as the division line; said top marginal portion of said movable wall section including a wall sloping upward and inward from the outer surface thereof to provide a second recess located alongside said first recess and opening upward and outward; a latch plate extending lengthwise of said second recess and pivotally secured to said top marginal portion to move about an axis extending in the same general direction as said free edge portion and including an inwardly disposed hooking flange projecting upwardly and behind said free edge portion and engaging the rear thereof to hold the movable wall section closed, and said hooking 'fiange being movable about its pivotal'axis downward to clear said free edge portion when it is desired to open said movable wall section.

7. An upright sheet-metal wall divided along a transverse line into a fixed upper wall section having a bottom marginal portion extending along the division line and into a lower outwardly movable wall section having a top marginal portion also extending along said division line; said bottom marginal portion including a wall member sloping inward and downward from the outer surface thereof to provide a first recess extending along said division line and opening outward and downward, and said sloping wall member terminating in an inner free edge portion extending in the same general direction as the division line; said top marginal portion of said movable wall section including a wall sloping upward and inward from the outersurface thereof to provide a second recess located alongside said first recess and opening upward and outward; a latchmember extending lengthwise of said second recess and including a first plate member lying substantially flush with the outer surface of said wall, a second plate member extending inward from said first plate member and toward said inner free edge portion, and a hooking flange extending upward from the inner portions of said second plate member and normally positioned behind said free edge and in engagement therewith; and means pivotally supporting said latclrmember for movement about an axis extending in the same general direction as said free edge whereby said hooking flange may be moved downward to clear said free edge and the movable wall section then moved outward.

8. A wall structure for an enclosure, comprising upper and lower panel members arranged in substantially the same plane and having transverse horizontal edges in meeting relation; at least one of said panel members being removable for access to said enclosure; the lower panel member having an outwardly opening recess extending along its said transverse edge, and formed by a wall extending inwardly and upwardly from the plane of said member; a pair of vertical plates on the rear of said lower memher and positioned to form the end walls of said recess; a latch member in said recess and extending lengthwise thereof and having a pair of pivot pins extending from the ends thereof, respectively, and beyond the ends of said recess and behind said lower panel member; one of said vertical plates having a bearing opening to receive one of said pins and the other vertical plate being formed to provide a rearwardly opening slot to receive the other of said pivot pins; a keeper plate detachably secured to said other vertical plate and cooperating with said other vertical plate to close said slot, and providing a bearing receiving said other pivot pin; and a catch plate fixed to said upper panel and adapted to be engaged by said latch member.

9. A sheet-metal wall panel having a mar ginal portion cut away to provide a recess extending therealong for a substantial distance and comprising a pair of outwardly-extending flange members positioned, respectively, at opposite ends of said recess and fixed to said wall member; a rotatable latch member extending lengthwise of said recess between said flange members and having a pair of pivot pins extending, respectively, from the opposite ends thereof; one of said flange members having a bearing opening therein receiving one of said pivot pins; the other of said flange members being cut away to permit the other pivot pin to be inserted from a side edge thereof; and a keeper plate detachably secured to said other flange member and having a bearing opening receiving said other pin.

CHARLES A. HILL. 

